Walvis Bay — Five small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), a primary school as well as the Topnaar community received donations of equipment valued at N$62 500 from the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency office on Tuesday.

The donations are line with the government's drive to promote development in rural and poor communities throughout the country by initiating developmental projects and disseminating funding through traditional leaders.

During the handover ceremony at the Walvis Bay Rural Constituency office, Councillor John Nangolo urged small businesses in need of assistance to approach his office.

"We want assist those that are eager to establish themselves in the business world. We are elected and appointed to serve the community. Our aim is to assist Namibians in order to sustain themselves and their families. Although we do not make cash donations we are ready to assist with the required equipment," Nangolo said.

He said there is still N$37 000 left from the N$100 000 that his office received from the government to assist small businesses during the current financial year.

The beneficiaries are the Topnaar Os-water Garden Project, which received a pricing scale; Tutaleni Primary School, which received a laptop and a desk computer; Twahangana Investment which received a hydraulic press machine and the Kuisebmond Community Centre which received a stove and groceries, as well as AJJMV Investment which received a concrete mixer.

Councillor Nangolo urged the beneficiaries to safeguard the equipment, which will remain the property of his office for at least six years. He also encouraged the recipients to fully optimise usage of the equipment, and added that equipment that is not used within six months would be returned to his office.

The recipients thanked the constituency office and the government for assisting small businesses to contribute to the country's economy.